PlanetCatfish.com

Not realy but I did have to save my common pleco from one of my apple snails (Pomacea bridgesii) I guess the pleco was eating off of the bottom of the snails operculum (flap that covers the hole when the snail receses in its shell,) and somehow the plecos nose and part of his mouth got pinched between the inside of the shell and the operculum. When this happened it startled the snail and he cinched it closed tighter. I dont know how long they had been in this possition but when I came close the fish thrashes around and the snail wouldn't budge. So I picked them up out of the water and I could hear and feel the snail closing even tighter! I though I was going to have to kill the snail by breaking his shell but I finnaly worked the fishes snout out from the snails grasp. The pleco was a little bloody and upset but I dont think there is any lasting damage. Has anyone ever heard of this happening before? It was a strange sight to see and I would have taken a picture if I wasn't so worried about the plecos comfort.

Brett

I have heard of many cases of plecos trying to eat snails and the snail closing in on the pleco's nose. My pleco ate my ramshorn snail and my grandma's bristle nose catfish ate both her snails. Luckily the snails didn't have an operculum. The plecos probably are hungry so they decide to have escargo. Do you feed your pleco algae wafers or other foods (like vegetables)? If you don't, you probably should. My grandma feeds her fish with only flake food. It's no wonder that her snails were eaten.

Man. escargo, caviar (sp?), my fish have done more fine dining than I have in my whole life.

I feed mine a little bit of everything. Algae wafers, shrimp pellets, flakes, fresh fruits, and occationaly frozen brine shrimp (if the other fish dont get it all first.) but he loves to eat!

Brett

I find Peckoltia, Corydoras and Tetras playing with the snails that came in with plants(close to a year ago). They get quite excited! Every once in a while, I'll find an empty shell.....I wonder what goes on at night.
Amanda